December 6, 2011
Heptares Therapeutics and Emerald BioStructures Build Their GPCR Structure Collaboration
Heptares Therapeutics and Emerald BioStructures, leaders in G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) structural biology, recently expanded their agreement aimed at combining their expertise to enable Heptares’ discovery of new therapies for this important family of drug targets. GPCRs are the target of 25-30% of all drugs, but have remained recalcitrant to structure based drug discovery due to their association with cell membranes. Heptares and Emerald began working together on these difficult targets in February 2010. In this FTE-based agreement, the two companies will work together using protein engineering, purification studies, and crystallization optimization to aid active GPCR structural studies. Heptares’ STaRS® GPCR stabilizing technology will be complemented by Emerald’s expression platform and depth of experience with the crystallization of membrane proteins.
About Emerald BioStructures
Emerald BioStructures is an integrated gene-to-structure contract research organization that provides collaborative drug discovery services to pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, academic institutions, and government facilities. The company operates a high-throughput platform leveraged for fragment-based lead discovery, structure-based drug design, and elucidation of antibody-antigen structures. Emerald’s work provides a solid foundation for the discovery of highly selective, efficacious drugs. www.emeraldbiostructures.com
About Heptares
Heptares is a drug discovery company creating new medicines targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The company is currently leveraging its GPCR expertise and proprietary StaR® technology to build a pipeline of best-in-class and first-in-class GPCR-targeted medicines for the treatment of CNS, metabolic and other diseases. www.heptares.com
Emerald BioStructures Contact:
Emerald BioStructures: Diana Wetmore, VP of Business Development & Alliances (206) 780-8959, dwetmore@embios.com